I purchased 2 properties in August of 2003 for completion July 2004 and put down a deposit of £100k. The developer never built the properties and I subsequently started legal proceedings to either get a property or my money back. That was over 8 years ago and I have never seen my money or feel any further on.

I first discovered that my first solicotor never secured a bank guarantee nor ever advised me there was such a thing. I spent 18 months with the first solicitor but was really unhappy with progress and therefore changed.

In February 2008 I won a court case with a second solicitor awarding me EU147k. The joy was short lived as I was then told I had to start second court case to seize a property as there was nothing in this award to force the builder to pay what I was awarded (go figure - what's the point?). In addition I was also told I had to pay the EU21,000 legal fees to get my own money back.

The second court case took many more years and eventually my solicitor found property through the courts. My solicitor registered an Embargo on the properties in July 2008. I paid a further 1500eu to a procurador, 800eu to the evaluator to value the properties that we had an Embargo on.

I have now waited a further 2-3 years again to try to get the properties to auction. I am now informed that there are people living in the properties I have an embargo on. My solicitor has been unable to find the people as they are German nationals. As a result the solicitor is now saying that he is going to take the properties to auction however if at a later date the residents of the properties in question are found to have a legal right then they could sue me!!!. The solicitor is saying that the residents of the properties have not registered their right with the land registry as it is still shown under the builders name but he went on to say that this isnt conclusive. My solicitors English isnt great and his expectation setting, reassurance and explination of the process is far from re-assuring to the point where I am as confused now as I was 8 years ago. I have no idea what to do or if I am worse off. I am particularly scared about seeing some kind of closure as far as an auction is concerned only to be counter sued. Is there anywhere I can get some decisive and clear advice as my solicotor is doing little to explain the process and advise me accordingly.

Specifically I could use an answer to the following questions:

1. Does the process I have been through (embargo, procurador, valuation etc) through the courts, all on advice and at additional costs, not validate, not only that there is no debt on the property, but there is no-one with legal right to the property before the embargo is placed?

2. Is there anyway I can find out if there is anyone with legal right to the property without writing to every Notary in Spain?

3. If someone has purchased the property but not registered this at the land registry what are the implications?

4. Is there no protection either in the UK or in Spain for UK citizens purchasing property in Spain? I am thinking a UK court process, British embassy, equivalent of legal aid or citizens advice or perhaps a trading standards or governing body so I can obtain clear and concise advice?

Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated. This has been a long and very stressful process that has led to a breakdown and financial ruin. Every time I feel I am getting somewhere I get more news setting me back years or worse still, costing me more money!!!